Military arrests Abu Sayyaf member in Tawi-tawi

May 15, 2017

The military has arrested a member of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Tawi-tawi on Saturday, a spokesman said Monday. Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command identified the arrested member as Sahidul Bandhala Jikiri alyas Jamiri Saidul a resident of Brgy Sipangkot, Sitangkai, Tawi-tawi. Brigadier General Custodio Parcon, commander of the Joint Task Force Tawi-tawi, the forces of Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 arrested Jikiri after residents pointed him as a member of the ASG kidnap for ransom group (KFRG) past noon of May 13, said Petinglay. "MBLT10 troops were having a meeting among the local populace of Sipangkot when the information on the identity of Jikiri was volunteered by one of the concerned residents," Parcon said. He said in coordination with the police, soldiers invited Jikiri for an interview. "In the course of questioning, Jikiri confessed to be an ASG/KFRG member under sub leaders Idang Susukan and Sihata Latip, whose groups are operating in Sulu Province," he added. Petinglay said Jikiri disclosed "he is often contacted by other ASG/KFRG sub leaders Abraham Hamid, Salip Susung, Nixon Muktadil and Brown Muktadil when crafting plans for kidnapping and cross-border seajacking, targeting mostly foreign nationals and vessels." "Jikiri revealed the sub-leaders will pay him for every errand they ask him to do for them," Parcon said. "He also gets a part of the money every time family of kidnap victims pay ransom in exchange for their release," he added. Petinglay said Jikiri has affiliations with other Abu Sayyaf members, such as the Raden Abu group and Alden Bagade group, acting as an errand man in procuring speedboats and other requirements needed to support kidnapping activities. She said as of Monday, Jikiri remains in the custody of the Tawi-tawi PNP while documentation and filing of appropriate charges are being processed. (Robina Asido/DMS)